The building that now houses Burritt’s Café in Weedsport stood empty for years before the current owners decided to buy it. Originally, Darryl Wolford and his wife, Sherry Saben-Wolford, intended to simply remodel the building in an effort to help clean up the appearance of the downtown Weedsport area. However, inspired by author Thomas Moore’s “The Re-enchantment of Everyday Life,” the Wolfords set out to create a unique alternative to modern fast food and coffee shops.

Walking through the doors of Burritt’s Café, it is clear that the owners take great pride in creating a sense of comfort in an atmosphere that is also pleasing to the eye. Hardwood floors and walls of exposed brick complement those painted in the rich gold and amber shades that evoke a Central New York autumn. Tables covered with mismatched tablecloths are adjacent to a stage built to accommodate live musical talent from Thursday to Sunday each week. Wall space is devoted to paintings from local artists, which change monthly to expose new talent.
The café menu is sketched in colorful chalk across blackboards that hang above the coffee counter. Burritt’s offers a full organic coffee bar, espresso, bagels and egg and cheese between sandwiches for breakfast, with an array of soups, salads, and wraps for lunch. Pastries made with healthier ingredients and all-natural sugar substitutes are available for diabetic guests, and reflect Sherry’s commitment to natural, healthy eating - as well as finding alternative food options for those with special health issues.

Darryl Wolford’s relaxed affability seems perfectly suitable for a coffee shop owner. It is apparent from the outset that he maintains a positive and enthusiastic outlook on life, and a strong desire to “change culture” for the better, by revisiting an attitude and approach to business that is characteristic of bygone eras. Every detail of the café is designed to emphasize individuality, and to recapture a collective sense of fascination that we have gradually lost in a society that strives to promote uniformity and repetition.
“Burritt’s is a place where you’ll never walk into another Burritt’s,” explains Darryl. Every Starbucks and McDonald’s in America is essentially a reproduction of the same building plan, he notes. This is the environment he intended to avoid when designing and opening a café with his wife.

As Darryl’s stories unfold, it becomes clear that he is required to perform functions that go above and beyond that of a simple coffee shop owner. While Sherry maintains a regular presence among customers at Burritt’s, Darryl is responsible for most of the building’s renovation and reconstruction. Most recently, he has constructed an addition to the café by tearing down an adjacent building to build an outdoor patio. A brick wall on the far side of the cheerfully painted courtyard is all that remains of the former building, and was kept intact at the insistence of the Wolfords’ son. Along another wall stands a fence built with wide wooden slabs that once made up the floorboards of the original building.

All materials used to create Burritt’s have been recycled. A small staircase juts out into the front room, leading to a pair of wooden doors that serve no purpose other than to showcase a beautiful work of carpentry and to stimulate the imaginations of café guests. Another recycled door is located in a play area designated for children. The large metal door formerly covered a storage cooler, and was far too intriguing to be thrown away. Instead, the Wolfords installed it against the far wall. The door resembles an entryway to a bank safe, and when closed, hides a mural painted by a Syracuse artist.

Along the corridor between the main café area and the outdoor patio, guests can pause to admire the culinary work of Karmen, a former café waitress with a flair for baking. Karmen creates delectable pastries that fill Burritt’s display cases. Selections include coffee cakes, brownies, and muffins, and Karmen is visibly delighted to share her concoctions with guests. A cup of Burritt’s coffee is perfectly complemented by a soft and sweet slice of frosted cranberry orange bread, delivered by the baker herself.

Burritt’s Café has become a coveted place for artists to showcase their talent. Darryl books musical shows three months in advance, and regularly receives musical CDs in the mail from artists hoping to catch his attention. The Kaplan Shaw Blues Trio, a local Blues band, performs monthly, while visits from other musicians are more sporadic. The exceptional quality of the acoustics in the café has impressed so many visiting artists that Darryl is currently assembling the necessary equipment to begin making live recordings.

Each month, the Wolfords hold a “meet and greet” event in which the artist whose work has been displayed in Burritt’s during the previous month introduces himself to interested members in the community. These occasions feature live music, a chance to meet the featured artist, and an opportunity to purchase artwork.
This year, the Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce voted Burritt’s Café the “best business opened within the last five years,” solidifying the already excellent reputation the café has earned in its two and a half years of operation. The Wolfords’ strong appreciation for both visual and performing arts makes the café’s entertainment lineup unparalleled in the area. Darryl and Sherry Wolford have succeeded in building a business that is unique in its atmosphere and design, and continues to promote a sense of community and family-friendliness within its unique doors.